How do I play a MTT in the Later Stages??

toned14

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I'm a pretty solid player, well most of the time, If I concentrate I can usually reach the later stages in most Tournaments.

I usually start of playing Loose and Aggressive

Then I tighten up a little occasionally playing some random two cards to keep my opponents guessing

I'll always try to steal when I can, If I come across weaker players i'll try to bully them when I can.

I don't usually bluff and then in the later stages I will become TAG

Do i need to do anything else to improve my game??
 
appaz86

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what stakes are you playing at?

i find that style of play doesn't work at all well for me at the micro stakes mtt's and sng's (the donks just call with middle pair, top pair bad kicker, etc etc etc)

but basically my tip for late stages in big mtt's would be to concentrate on position and the players MORE then your hand

get yourself a program that tracks VPIP, PFR, 3Bet etc %'s

play position and the player alot more and of course keep concentrating!

good luck
 
toned14

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Micro at the minute, playing any free rolls i can as well.
I'll try your way appaz an see how it goes, thanks...

All that VPIP, PFR stuff your on about has just went over my head lol so you'll have to explain that please
 
spunka

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"All that VPIP, PFR stuff your on about has just went over my head lol so you'll have to explain that please"

Means you should have some kind of pokersoftware to track the players.
(pokertracker, holdem manager, etc).

You need to bluff a bit especially in the later stages of a tournament, before you're stack gets too small.
 
dwolfg

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try reversing your strategy. Play tag until you can identify the types of players your opponents are and the blinds get a little higher, then open up your game after you know who you can bluff, and who will call you down with bottom pair.
 
appaz86

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try reversing your strategy. Play tag until you can identify the types of players your opponents are and the blinds get a little higher, then open up your game after you know who you can bluff, and who will call you down with bottom pair.

this is how i play, super tight early, let the donks donk out, play position and players late on when blinds are more meaning full.

as for poker software i recommend tournament indicator, but im sure theres plenty of good options

vpip % = voluntarily put in pot (basically a % of hands a player has played, without include checking from the bb) this indicates how tight/lose a player is, bluff the tight players late

pfr % = pre flop raise, shows the range of cards a player considers worthy of raising pre flop, how often does a player pfr? are they raising with quality hands? or do they usually just flat call with decent hands and only raise monsters? etc

if i raise and get re-raised by a mouse that has barely played a hand and hasn't pfr'd all day then unless i have AA, KK, AK or QQ i'm usually folding

3 bet % = how often does a player raise and continuation bet, are they are consistantly raising and betting any flop? you know if a player is just bullying or who actually has a hand

theres plenty more stats you can look into, these ones are some of the important ones i like

good luck
 
SavagePenguin

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Late in the game, with M's getting low, it's about putting pressure on the people's who are less likely to call.

If you're getting short, you avoid messing with big stacks who can call you with impunity, but put the people who can't afford to call-and-lose under pressure.
That means messing with the middle stacks. If someone is really short they'll stack in desperation, and if someone is a big stack they can afford to squash you. But if calling your all-in and losing means that someone will be desperate, then you have a lot more fold equity.
 
R

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Play the style that works for you!
If you win with your actual way of playing keep it otherwise change it.....
 
djkismet

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try reversing your strategy. Play tag until you can identify the types of players your opponents are and the blinds get a little higher, then open up your game after you know who you can bluff, and who will call you down with bottom pair.

i would totally have to agree with this. in micro stages most play rediculos hands and u usually get 3 or 4 to the flop. i try to stay TAG in the beginning and loosen up if i take down a big hand the early-mid stages. i try not to bluff too much till the antes come into play and even then i usually dont until the 2nd or 3rd level of the antes...... if anyone can maybe put some info on something i may want to add or take away from this condensed theory please do
 
toned14

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Have seen a massive improvement with my overall positioning, qualified for the $1000 freeroll on fulltilt as well as round 2 in the FTPA main event challenge, just wanna say thanks to all of you and if anyone has anything else to share then please do!!
 
8Michael3

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Your original strategy looks a little rigid. Get Dan Harringtons 2nd book on late stage play or winning poker tournaments one hand at a time volume 2 which I just got (fantastic for late stage play).

Notice how many factors come into play that they suggest should change your strategy. Just saying that "in the later stages I play TAG" is not a great idea. You need to be flexible in your strategy because your decision depends on so many factors besides the cards you hold.

And ofcourse you need your edges to hold or your light aggressive three betting to get lucky if youre called.

Good luck-and another thing you should consider is getting points on full tilt for the free poker video training you get from cardrunners/stox. those guys will show you how to make winning decisions during the later stages of your tourneys.
 
straytfrush

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I personally play the reverse of what you claim to do. But, stealing whenever you can is not the best idea. At low levels the blinds are not worth it to attempt to steal. I wait until later when it matters more, you don't want a table image as a blind thief early on.
 
toned14

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Don't worry i've learned the hard way what happens when you try to steal in the early stages, and if i am stealing later on its usually a semi bluff or if i sense weakness....
 
Poker Orifice

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Going in with a pre-determined idea of how you're going to play isn't what I'd recommend. You want to adjust your style of play based upon the style of the other's on your table (& to make adjustments based on stack sizes, etc.).
Read HOH as mentioned above. It'll give you a better idea of how to tackle mtt's.
 
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